QRL responds to Bundaberg's junior rugby league brawl

UPDATE 10:10AM: The Queensland Rugby League is confident security was good enough during Sunday's under-15 game that ended in a brawl.

Today the association came out swinging, publicly condemning what happened and launching its own investigation into the incident.

QRL Central Division manager Glenn Ottaway said security had not been an issue at the game between Wests and Burrum.

"The incident did not happen because of a lack of security," Ottaway said.

"It happened because of individuals at the ground who got involved."

Ottaway said charges would be laid, and that the association working closely with the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League on formulating a response.

"There will be penalties (for those involved)," he said.

"They will vary from very significant to minimal and will be done on an individual basis."

Ottaway said security could be beefed up to ensure no repeat, with junior grand finals set to be held this weekend, including in the U15s between Wests and Brothers.

"We'll work through the incident at all levels with the BJRL," Ottaway said.

Bundaberg Junior Rugby League has declined to comment.

So far, no charges have been laid by police and no teams, players, or fans have been suspended or charged over the incident.

That is likely to change when the review is completed.

The QRL released a statement this morning into the incident:

"The Queensland Rugby League is aware of a reported incident in the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League that occurred on Sunday, August 28, at Salter Oval in Bundaberg.

"The Queensland Rugby League will work closely with the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League in reviewing the incident and ensuring the necessary actions and processes as defined in the Queensland Rugby League rules are followed.

"The type of behaviour as seen during the incident has no place in our game.

"The Queensland Rugby League will be making no further comment at this stage.

"Further comment relating to the incident will be made once investigations are completed."

More to come.

UPDATE: Dave Love from the Burrum Miners team involved in a weekend brawl said the situation was not a reflection of his rugby league team.

"It's a shame it ended up the way it was," he said.

"Burrum Heads is definitely not about that, we are really about our rugby league."

"In the heat of the battle these things happen. Our apologies for anything on our side, it's not what we are about and rugby league shouldn't be about that at all."

"We definitely don't want the kids to act like that and we definitely don't condone it."